10 best pest control companies in East Lake, Florida

In East Lake, you may encounter pests such as snakes, spiders and flies. While you can try DIY removal and prevention techniques, an active infestation most likely requires the help of a pest control expert. These experienced pest specialists in East Lake can pinpoint the problem and resolve it safely and effectively.

A pest infestation can lead to damage to your property and pose health risks to you and your loved ones, including your pets. Insects and small animals can cause irreversible structural damage to your home, contaminate your food and spread disease.

Bringing in expert pest controllers decreases these dangers. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include closing off gaps, using traps or applying pesticides. When the proper fixes are implemented, you can get rid of infestations for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in East Lake

Look for pest control companies in East Lake with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in East Lake?

While pests are everywhere, not all of them infest the same areas. If you suspect you have an infestation, here are some indications of common pests in the East Lake area:

• Flies: Flies often buzz around homes in the summer, but more flies than normal could mean an infestation. Fly droppings look like black specks and are often found in around sink drains, high shelves and trash. Another sign of an infestation is seeing maggots, which are fly larvae, in waste.
• Wasps: The biggest sign of a wasp infestation is simply seeing more wasps around than usual. Many kinds of wasp nest above ground, but ground wasps generally make their nests in dirt underground. A ground nest may not be noticeable until you step on it. Wasps are known to swarm, and show significantly more aggression than bees. It's crucial to enlist professional help rather than attempting to remove a nest yourself.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are mostly active at night, but you may see a few during the day if you have a major infestation. Their nesting areas concentrate around kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Cockroaches commonly leave brown smears on walls and floors and leave droppings that resemble ground black pepper. Cockroaches transmit disease and can even aggravate breathing problems.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during warmer seasons, nesting in overgrown grass, rock piles, wood and debris. Shed snake skins and snake eggs point to infestations. To test if you have a snake infestation, sprinkle flour on the ground where you suspect they're nesting. If you see snake trails in the flour, you know it's time to contact a pest control company.
• Ants: Numerous ant species might invade your property. Carpenter ants target wood while fire ants go after oily or greasy food debris. Both of these two varieties bite, while pavement ants don't. Pavement ants also often make their way indoors. Seeing a line of ants in your home means a larger colony has nested nearby.

How can you prevent pests in your East Lake home?

Getting rid of pests isn’t easy, but a good defense is always the best offense. While an infestation usually requires professional help, there are steps you can take on your own to mitigate the risk of pests.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals can wreak havoc on your home and health if not addressed swiftly. Talk to a pest control professional about preventative measures to stop pests from entering your home. Their recommendations may include sealing off cracks and holes, placing traps or applying pesticides around the area.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are typically looking for food, making food difficult to access will keep them from sticking around. Food should be a minimum of half a foot off the floor and a short distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep sinks, food storage areas and counters clean and sanitized when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash frequently. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in trash, leaves, standing water and tall grass. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the easiest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, check if national lawn care services such as TruGreen are available in your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Sealing off access points into your home will help prevent insects and small animals from entering. Rats, for example, can wriggle into holes just half an inch in diameter. Repair cracks in your roof or siding, and remember to seal broken window frames. Some pest control providers offer specialized pest prevention services to keep critters out.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you get a pest control company that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications in line with the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Florida requires pest control technicians to be licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Private, Public or Commercial Applicator Licenses are all available through this office.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment plan a pest professional recommends will vary based on the specific treatment method, the particular pest type, the location of the property and the severity of the infestation. In most cases, pest control companies advise against relying on a one-time treatment to eliminate household pests, as there will likely be insects at various stages of their life cycles that may have laid eggs in hidden spots.

Pest control experts often recommend regular treatments, with some scheduled exclusively during the warmer seasons and others occurring throughout the year. To prevent infestations from taking hold, they might also propose preventive treatments once per quarter to stop new infestations from forming.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

How long it takes for your pest problem to disappear will vary based on the infestation type and severity, as well as the insect's life cycle. When the pest control professional applies the first treatment, you may perceive a decline in activity, but pests could resurface after hatching, requiring additional treatments. On the other hand, you might see increased activity following the first treatment, as it can drive pests out of hiding. Fortunately, this should decrease within a few days' time.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to stay in your home during certain portions of the pest control process, such as when entry points are sealed. However, if your service technician applies a pesticide, it might take several hours to dry, and you'll need to stay out of the house during this period.

Certain treatments can be especially time-consuming like termite fumigation. The pest control provider erects a tent around your home, which is left in place for three days to release the pesticide. During this period, you'll need to stay elsewhere.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

An experienced pest control professional can gauge how much of a product to use, the time needed for it to dry and when children and pets can safely return to the treated location. Before beginning any treatment, your service provider should inform you about what should be removed from the area, including food, plants and animals.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control providers offer eco-friendly methods for treating an infestation. This involves using products that don't impact the environment as much as traditional chemical approaches. Eco-friendly pest control methods may include sealing off areas where pests can gain access, using catch-and-release traps or applying pesticides made from natural ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Many pest control services have guarantees and warranties in place if pests return before a certain date. Companies may offer a single treatment or ongoing treatments to resolve a stubborn pest problem. Ask your service provider what options they offer.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.